Tara is the owner and chef of The Culinary Cottage, a community-focused cooking school dedicated to fostering connections through the love of food. With over 20 years of experience in the food industry, Tara began her food journey while obtaining a Bachelors degree in business, while working many aspects of the food industry. While in the finance field, she went back to school, training in food science through the University of Nebraska's food development program and attending Culinary School through Loretta Paganini ICASI. Tara opened Delicious Deliveries LLC, in 2007, a successful personal cheffing and catering business. For the past 10 years, Tara has also assisted KitchenAid with product development, testing, culinary instruction and recipe writing.

Her ultimate passion is teaching. Tara's taught over 1,500 area classes, including hands on teaching dinner clubs, food venues, demonstrations and touring. In 2020, Tara founded The Culinary Cottage, creating a kitchen space, where hands-on cooking classes, themed dining experiences, and children’s programs could flourish. Her passion for food education and community-building drives this passion, offering students of all ages, a chance to explore cooking in a welcoming, and creative environment.

Through The Culinary Cottage, Tara's mission is to inspire confidence in the kitchen, empower home cooks, cultivate lasting connections, create memories, and share the joy of cooking with others, always focusing on the importance of community, shared through the food experience.